Waste compactor with protective shield

ABSTRACT

A waste compactor comprising a cabinet having an extendible ram assembly mounted adjacent the upper end thereof and a swingable receptacle assembly positionable below the ram assembly. The receptacle assembly includes a platform hingedly mounted on the cabinet for horizontal swinging movement between a filling position wherein the receptacle is positioned directly under the ram, and an emptying position wherein the receptacle is swung outwardly from the cabinet to facilitate unloading of bags filled with compacted waste. The receptacle includes a first portion fixed to the swingable platform and a second portion hingedly connected to the fixed portion. The ram assembly includes a fluid pressure cylinder having a compacting shoe on the lower end thereof. A shield device coacts between the ram assembly and the receptacle for substantially closing the open end of the receptacle to prevent the waste within the receptacle, such as glass, plastic and the like, from being accidentally discharged through the open end of the receptacle during the compacting stroke.

United States Patent [1 1 Hennells 14 1 Sept. 4, 1973 WASTE COMPACTORWITH PROTECTIVE SHIELD [75] Inventor: Ransom J. Hennells, Plymouth,

Mich.

[731 Assignee: Compactor Company, Inc.,

Ypsilanti, Mich.

[22] Filed: July 12, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 161,739

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1969 .Iernstrom 100/5210/1971 Bottas et al 100/229 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Seco Pamphlet, June 23,1971 Primary Examiner-Billy J. Wilhite AtzorneyWoodhams, Blanchard andFlynn [57] ABSTRACT A waste compactor comprising a cabinet having anextendible ram assembly mounted adjacent the upper end thereof and aswingable receptacle assembly positionable below the ram assembly. Thereceptacle assembly includes a platform hingedly mounted on the cabinetfor horizontal swinging movement between a filling position wherein thereceptacle is positioned directly under the ram, and an emptyingposition wherein the receptacle is swung outwardly from the cabinet tofacilitate unloading of bags filled with compacted waste. The receptacleincludes a first portion fixed to the swingable platform and a secondportion hingedly connected to the fixed portion. The ram assemblyincludes a fluid pressure cylinder having a compacting shoe on the lowerend thereof. A shield device coacts between the ram assembly and thereceptacle for substantially closing the open end of the receptacle toprevent the waste within the receptacle, such as glass, plastic and thelike, from being accidentally discharged through the open end of thereceptacle during the compacting stroke.

11 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEP B 3.758.143

SHEET u or 4 INVENTOR IPA/(90M HEM 115 44% Mi 0 4/70/9245 J WASTECOMPACTOR WITH PROTECTIVE SHIELD CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONSThis application is related to my copending application Ser. No. 874940, filed Nov. 7, 1969, and entitled Waste Disposal System.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a waste compactor forcompacting waste products into a disposable bag or container supportedwithin a receptacle and, in particular, to a waste compactor having aprotective shield disposed for coaction between the compacting ram andthe receptacle for preventing waste products, such as glass and plastic,from being accidentally discharged or thrown from the open end of thereceptacle during the compacting operation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improvement inthe compacting device disclosed in my copending application Ser. No.874,940, filed Nov. 7, 1969. While the compacting device of the presentinvention possesses all of the structural and operational advantages ofthe machine disposed in my copending application, nevertheless thepresent invention possesses still further operational advantages whichresult in the machine operating in a more desirable manner.

My copending application discloses therein a small, lightweight wastecompacting device which is particularly suitable for restaurants,cafeterias, schools, factories, office buildings, hospitals, apartmentbuildings and the like, which device is able to easily and efficientlycompact waste, such as paper and other compressible products, intodisposable containers or bags. My prior compacting device specificallyincludes a separable drum-like receptacle adapted to have a suitablecontainer, such as a disposable plastic bag, supported therein with thereceptacle being positionable under a reciprocating ram assembly forpermitting the waste to be compacted into the bag.

The compacting device disclosed in my prior application, as brieflydescribed above, has proven very suc cessful but, in a continuing effortto improve same, certain additional features have been developed whichprovide substantially improved operation under certain operatingconditions.

Particularly, in some use situations the compacting device is utilizedfor compacting waste which is capable of shattering, such as glass orplastic bottles, jars and the like. Such articles tend to burst orshatter into numerous pieces when compressed. While this generallyproduces no harmful effect, nevertheless it is possible that some of thepieces may fly out of the open end of the receptacle, which flyingpieces of glass or plastic may strike a person standing near thereceptacle and cause injury. This possibility of flying glass or plasticis most probable when the disposable bag is substantially full of waste.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to an improved compactingdevice which is provided with a safety shield thereon whichsubstantially eliminates the possibility of waste flying out of thereceptacle during the compacting operation, which safety shield does notinterfere with the depositing of waste into the receptacle or with thefree reciprocation of the ram assembly.

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide:

1. An improved compacting device particularly suitable for compactingwaste into disposable containers or bags and having a safety devicedisposed to coact between the ram and the receptacle for preventing thewaste or trash from accidentally flying out of the receptacle.

2. A device, as aforesaid, wherein the safety device is flexible and, ina relaxed condition, hangs downwardly toward the receptacle so as to notinterfere with the depositing of waste or trash into the receptacle.

3. A device, as aforesaid, wherein the safety device, at least in therelaxed condition, hangs downwardly to prevent trash or waste fromcollecting on the upper side thereof.

4. A device, as aforesaid, wherein the safety device makes thecompacting device particularly suitable for use in compacting articles,such as plastic or glass containers, which shatter upon compression.

5. A device, as aforesaid, wherein the safety device comprises adisc-like shield secured to the compacting ram and disposed forsubstantially closing the open end of the receptacle when the ram isextended into the receptacle.

6. A device, as aforesaid, wherein the disc-like shield is constructedof a flexible material, such as rubber or the like, and has an outerdiameter substantially equal to, and preferably slightly larger than,the diameter of the receptacle for substantially totally closing theopen end of the receptacle while not interfering with the propercompaction of the trash within the receptacle.

7. A device, as aforesaid, wherein the safety shield comprises aflexible ring-like sheet of material which at its outer edge is fixedlysecured to either the upper edge of the receptacle or the edge of thehopper and is disposed for coaction with the ram when the ram isextended into the receptacle.

8. A device, as aforesaid, wherein the safety shield is easily andeconomically replaced in the event of damage thereto.

Other objects and purposes of this invention will be apparent to personsacquainted with apparatus of this general type upon reading thefollowing specification FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofa two-stationwaste compactor constructed according to the present inventron. 1

FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line II-IIof FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an elevational cross-sectional view taken along the lineIII-III of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IVof FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the top edge of thereceptacle and illustrating the manner in which a bag is held thereon.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating thereinthe lower end of the ram assembly having a safety shield securedthereto.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the structureillustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the upper end of thereceptacle and illustrating therein a modified safety shield adapted tobe removably secured to the upper end of the receptacle.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of still a further modificationwherein the safety shield is adapted to be attached to the hopper.

Certain terminology will be used in the following description forconvenience in reference only and will not be limiting. The wordsupwardly, downwardly, rightwardly" and leftwardly will designatedirections in the drawings to which reference is made. The wordsinwardly and outwardly will refer to directions toward and away from,respectively, the geometric center of the device and designated partsthereof. Said terminology will include the words above specificallymentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In general, the objects and purposes of theinvention are met by providing a compacting device having a cabinetwhich supports adjacent the bottom thereof a receptacle or bag-holdingdevice, which receptacle is positioned below a reciprocable ram assemblyhaving a compacting shoe thereon. The receptacle preferably comprises apair of pivotally connected arcuate sections which form a cylindricalbag holder, one of the arcuate sections being fixedly secured to aplatform mounted on the cabinet for horizontal swinging movement betweena filling position disposed directly below the ram assembly and anunloading position wherein the platform is displaced outwardly frombeneath the ram assembly. When in the unloading position, the movablesection of the receptacle is swingable outwardly away from the fixedsection to permit a disposable bag containing compacted waste therein tobe removed from the receptacle.

A safety shield is disposed for substantially closing the open end ofthe receptacle, at least during the compacting stroke, for preventingpieces or fragments of trash from accidentally flying out of thereceptacle, such as due to the shattering of plastic or glass bottles orthe like. The safety shield in the preferred embodiment comprises a thindisc fixedly secured to the compacting shoe and extending radiallyoutwardly therefrom for slidably extending into the receptacle tosubstantially totally close the open end thereof. The disc is preferablyconstructed from a resilient flexible material, such as rubber, tonormally deflect downwardly at various circumferentially disposedportions of the periphery thereof to prevent trash from collecting onthe upper surface thereof. However, the flexible disc contacts the edgeof the receptacle when the ram is moved downwardly so that the disc thensubstantially flattens to totally occupy and snugly engage the walls ofthe receptacle. Alternately, the safety shield may comprise a disc, alsopreferably constructed of a resilient flexible material, fixedly securedto either the upper edge of the receptacle or the edge of the feedopening formed in the hopper, whereupon the disc then extends inwardlyinto closed surrounding relationship with the ram when the ram isextended downwardly into the receptacle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 illustrates therein a two-station compactingdevice 10 which includes a housing or cabinet 11 having a pair of wastereceptacle assemblies 12 and 13 positionable in side-by-side relation. Awaste receiving hopper 14 is mounted on the cabinet 11 directly abovethe receptacle assemblies 12 and 13. A pair of extendible ram assemblies16 and 17 are mounted in substantial alignment with the receptacleassemblies 12 and 13, respectively, for compressing the waste intosuitable bags or containers positioned within the receptacle assemblies.A self-contained fluid pressure actuating system is mounted adjacent theupper end of the cabinet 11 for causing downward extension of the ramassemblies 16 and 17. While FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the receptacleassembly 12 positioned in an outward unloading position, the assembly 12is normally positioned inwardly within the cabinet (as illustrated indotted lines in FIG. 2) directly beneath the ram assembly 16.

Considering first the cabinet 11 (FIGS. 1-3), same comprises a top wall21, a bottom wall or floor 22, a rear wall 23 and opposed sidewalls 24.The front of the cabinet is substantially open except for a front panel26 disposed adjacent the top of the cabinet 1 1. The cabinet 11 ispreferably provided with casters 28 thereon to permit the compactor 10to be selectively positioned or moved about as desired. The cabinet isalso preferably provided with manually adjustable leveling legs (notshown) for permitting the device to be properly positioned in a levelorientation.

The bottom of the cabinet 11 defines a forwardly opening storage space27 adapted to receive therein the movable receptacle assemblies 12 and13. The receptacle assemblies 12 and 13 are structurally identicalexcept that they are mirror images of one another since assembly 12 ishingedly connected to the left sidewall whereas assembly 13 is hingedlyconnected to the right sidewall of the cabinet. Thus, only thereceptacle assembly 12 will be described in detail.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the receptacle assembly 12 comprises avertically extending cylindrical bag holder or receptacle 31 mounted ona swingable platform 32. Platform 32 is connected to the left sidewall24 by hinge assemblies 33 for permitting the platform 32 to behorizontally swingably moved from a closed filling position (indicatedin dotted lines in FIG. 2) to an open unloading position (indicated insolid lines in FIG. 2). The platform 32 is movable through an angle ofapproximately in moving between its open and closed positions. 1

The swingable platform 32 specifically includes a bottom wall 34, afront panel or door 36, and a side panel 37. The bag holder 31 ismounted on the plat form 32 and comprises a pair of arcuate, preferablysubstantially semicylindrical, sections 38 and 39 pivotally connected byan elongated hinge 42. The section 39 is horizontally swingably, whereasthe section 38 is fixedly secured to the platform 32 by any suitablemeans. Latching devices 43 are provided for fixedly connecting thesections 38 and 39 in opposed abutting relationship.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, a disposable waste receiving container, suchas a vertically elongated, flexible plastic bag 46, is preferablypositioned within the receptacle 31, the free upper edge 47 (FIG. 5) ofthe bag being folded outwardly over the upper edge 48 of the receptacle31. The upper edge 48 of the receptacle 31 is preferably provided with achannel-shaped bag gripping member 49 (FIG. 5) thereon, which grippingmember 49 is preferably constructed of a nonmetallic material such asplastic or rubber. The gripping member 49 is provided with an outersurface 51 which is roughened or provided with serrations so that thefree upper edge 47 of the bag 46, when folded over into contact with thesurface 51, will be tightly gripped to hold the main body of the bag 46securely suspended within the interior of the receptacle 31.

The hinge structure 33, as explained in detail in my copendingapplication Ser. No. 874 940, includes cam means (not shown) for causingthe swingable platform 32, when swung away from its closed position, tobe moved slightly upwardly away from the cabinet floor 22, therebycreating a small clearance space which permits free swinging movement ofthe platform 32 into its outermost position. The cam structure formed onthe hinge assembly 33 thus maintains the platform 32 in its closedposition since the platform can be swung to its open outer position onlyby first camming same upwardly in opposition to the weight of theplatform 32 and the receptacle 31 mounted thereon.

Disposed directly above the upper ends of the receptacles 31 is thewaste hopper 14, which hopper includes a rectangular portion 81 (FIG. 4)positioned within the cabinet and extending between the sidewalls 24thereof. The hopper 14 is supported on the cabinet 11 by means of ashoulder 88 (FIG. 3) which extends around the interior of the cabinet.The rectangular hopper portion 81 is provided with a pair of dischargeopenings 82 which are disposed directly over the individual receptacles31. Openings 82 are preferably slightly smaller in diameter than thereceptacles 31 to insure that all waste which passes therethrough willbe deposited into the bags 46. The walls 83 (FIG. 3) sur rounding thedischarge openings 82 are tapered downwardly and inwardly toward theindividual openings 82 to act as a funnel whereby waste deposited intothe hopper will tend to slide downwardly toward the openings 82. Atapered rib 84 extends upwardly from the midportion of the hopper todivide same into two separate hopper-like compartments.

The hopper 14 is further provided with a backsplash 86 which extendsupwardly from the sides and rear of the rectangular portion 81. Atapered chute 87 extends outwardly from the forward edge of therectangular portion 81 whereby waste deposited thereon slides downwardlytoward the discharge openings 82.

Considering now the extendible ram assemblies 16 and 17, theseassemblies are identical and thus only the assembly 17 (FIG. 3) will bedescribed in detail.

The ram assembly 17 includes a double acting, telescoping fluid pressurecylinder 91. A compacting shoe 92 is fixedly secured on the lower end ofthe cylinder 91, the shoe 92 being provided with a lower planar vcompacting surface 93 and an upper surface 94 which slopes outwardly anddownwardly to prevent waste from becoming trapped thereon. Thecompacting shoe 92 has a maximum diameter, as defined by the lowersurface 93, which is substantially less than the internal diameter ofthe receptacle 31.

The telescoping power cylinder 91 has a head plate 96 fixedly secured tothe top wall 21 of the cabinet. An inner sleeve 97 is fixedly secured tothe head plate 96 and extends downwardly therefrom, being provided witha lower end plate 98 fixedly secured therein. A conduit 99 is positionedwithin inner sleeve 97 and extends between and is fixedly secured to thehead plate 96 and the end plate 98. A first port 101 communicates withthe upper end of the conduit 99, and a second port 102 communicates withan annular chamber 103 which surrounds the conduit 99. The ports 101 and102 are connected to a suitable fluid control circuit.

The cylinder 91 also includes an intermediate sleeve 104 slideablysupported on inner sleeve 97 by bushings 106 and 107. Bushing 106 isfixedly secured to the upper end of intermediate sleeve 104, whereasbushing 107 is fixedly secured to the lower end of inner sleeve 97. Thebushings 106 and 107, each of which contains suitable resilient sealstherein, result in the formation of an annular chamber 108 between theinner and intermediate sleeves, which chamber 108 communicates with thechamber 103 by means of port 109.

A further outer sleeve 1 11 surrounds and is slideably supported onintermediate sleeve 104 by means of bushings 112 and 113, both of whichcontain suitable O-rings therein. The bushing 112 is fixedly secured tothe upper end of outer sleeve 11 1,. whereas the bushing 1 13 is fixedlysecured to the lower end of intermediate sleeve 104. An annular chamber114 is formed between the intermediate and outer sleeves, which chamber114 communicates with chamber 108 by means of port 116. The lower end ofouter sleeve 111 is closed by an end cap 117 which is disposed oppositethe end plate 98 whereby an end chamber 118 is formed therebetween. Theend chamber 118 is in communication with the lower end of the conduit99.

Pressurized fluid for actuation of the power cylinder 91 is provided bya fluid control system which may be either of the pneumatic or hydraulictype. The type of fluid control system utilized may vary widely inaccordance with the desired use situation and one typical fluid controlsystem is illustrated in my abovementioned copending application. Thefluid control system, however, does include therein a motor 123 and acompressor or pump 122 drivingly connected to the motor, which pump 122is used for supplying pressure fluid to the telescoping ram assemblies.The motor 123 is preferably automatically actuated by means of apressure switch for permitting the telescoping ram assemblies to beautomatically extended and retracted, with the pair of ram assembliespreferably being energized alternately.

The structural and operational details of the compacting device 10, asdescribed above, is described in greater detail in my above-mentionedcopending application. Accordingly, further detailed description thereofis not believed necessary.

The improved compactor device 10 constructed according to the presentinvention is preferably provided with a safety shield thereon, apreferred embodiment of which is illustrated in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7. Thesafety shield in this illustrated embodiment comprises an annularring-like disc 126 fixedly secured to the compacting shoe 92. The disc126 is substantially larger than the shoe 92 and is designed tosubstantially totally occupy the interior cross-section of thereceptacle 31 when the ram 17 is extended to thereby substantially closethe open upper end of the receptacle 31. The

inner periphery of the disc 126 is preferably clamped between the upperand lower portions 127 and 128, respectively, of the compacting shoe 92,which upper and lower portions are fixedly secured by screws 129. Thescrews 129 preferably extend through suitable openings 131 formed in thedisc 126 for assisting in holding same on the compacting shoe 92. Theupper portion 127 is, as illustrated in FIG. 7, axially retained on theouter sleeve 111 by means of suitable retaining rings 132. The disc 126is preferably provided with an outer diameter which is slightly greaterthan the internal diameter of the receptacle 31 so that the outer edgeof the disc 126 will slidably engage the inner surface of the bag ascontained in the receptacle when the ram extends into the receptacle (asillustrated by dotted lines in FIG. 3).

The disc 126 is preferably constructed from a thin sheet of rubber-likematerial, and inasmuch as the outer edge of the disc 126 is unsupportedwhen the ram is retracted from the receptacle (as illustrated by solidlines in FIG. 3), the outer edge of the disc 126 will tend to deflectdownwardly due to its own weight. However, the configuration of thedisc, in conjunction with its stiffness, prevents the complete outeredge from drooping downwardly, whereupon the disc thus assumes anapproximate sinusoidal configuration when viewed from the peripherythereof. That is, the outer edge of the disc at severalcircumferentially spaced locations will deflect axially downwardly,whereas the outer edge of the disc at the intermediate locations will bespaced upwardly in close proximity to the horizontal plane defined bythe inner periphery of the disc. This wavy configuration of the disc, asillustrated in FIG. 6, is highly desirable since it permits any waste ortrash which comes into contact with the upper side of the disc to freelyslide off the disc into the receptacle. Further, the uppermost portionof the outer periphery of the disc is positioned for engagement with theupper end of the receptacle 31 when the ram is extended downwardly intothe receptacle, which engagement causes the disc 126 to substantiallystraighten out into the position illustrated by dotted lines in FIG. 3.However, when the ram is withdrawn from the receptacle, the disc 126will again assume the wavy position illustrated in FIG. 6, whereupon anytrash which is accidentally deposited on the'upper side of the disc 126will freely slide off the disc in the receptacle. While the disc 126 maybe constructed from rubber or the like, it is preferably constructedfrom a thin sheet of rubber-like material hav ing a fabric mesh, such ascotton or nylong mesh, embedded therein whereupon the disc 126 thuspossesses greater resistance to tearing or cutting. In a practicalembodiment of the invention, the disc 126 can have a thickness ofapproximately one-eighth inch. Also, in a practical embodiment of theinvention, the receptacle 31 has an internal diameter of approximately19 inches, and the disc 126 has an external diameter of approximately 20inches, whereupon the outer edge of the disc will slidably engage thereceptacle when the ram is lowered thereinto.

While the use of a resilient or flexible disc 126 is preferred, the disc126 could be constructed from a thin sheet of relatively rigid material,such as sheet metal, nylon, plastic or the like. If a rigid material isutilized for the disc 126, then the disc is preferably provided with amaximum outside diameter which is substantially equal to but slightlyless than the internal diameter of the receptacle 31. Further, the discin this situation is preferably positioned upwardly from the lowermostend of the ram, as defined by the face 94, to prevent the shield or discfrom being damaged.

OPERATION The operation of the device embodying the invention will bedescribed in detail hereinbelow for a better understanding thereof.

To utilize the compacting device 10, the receptacle assemblies 12 and 13will be disposed in their closed filling position, as illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2 by the solid line position of the receptacle assembly 13.Each of the receptacle assemblies will have a disposable container, suchas a plastic bag 46 suspended therein.

An operator will then deposit substantial quantities of waste or trashinto the hopper 14, which trash will fall through one or both of thedischarge openings 82 into the bags 46. After sufficient waste has beendeposited into the hopper to substantially but loosely fill theindividual bags 46, the operator will then manually actuate the startbutton 124, whereby pressurized fluid will be supplied from the pump 122to the extendible ram assemblies 16 and 17, which ram assemblies will bealternately actuated.

Assuming that the ram assembly 17 (FIG. 3) is first actuated, thetelescoping cylinder 91 thereof will be extended to move the compactingshoe 92 downwardly whereby the shoe passes through the respectivedischarge opening 82. As the shoe passes through the opening 82, a partof the outer edge of the disc 126 will contact the edge of the wall 83surrounding the opening 82, which contact will cause the disc 126 to bedeflected upwardly out of its sinusoidal form, whereupon the centralportion of the disc 26 will assume a substantially flat condition.Continued downward movement of shoe 92 will cause the flexible disc 126to pass through the opening 82 into the interior of the receptacle 31,whereupon the disc 126 will maintain its substantially planar condition(as illustrated by dotted lines in FIG. 3), in which condition the outerperiphery of the disc is deflected slightly upwardly and is disposed inslidable engagement with the interior of the bag 46, which bag is inturn held in engagement with the inner wall of the receptacle 31. Thedisc 126 thus substantially closes the open upper end of the receptacle31 during that portion of the cycle when the ram is disposed within andmoving downwardly into receptacle to cause compressing of the wastetherein. When the ram assembly 17 reaches its fully extended position,or its downward movement is stopped due to the compaction of the waste,then a suitable pressure switch will cause a reversal of the fluid flowto the cylinder 91 so that fluid will then be supplied through the portopening 102 to cause the ram assembly to be retracted upwardly. When theram is retracted upwardly, the flexible disc 126 will again return toits freely suspended condition wherein the outer edge thereof assumes asubstantially sinusoidal form as illustrated in FIG. 6. In thiscondition, the disc is inclined downwardly at several circumferentiallyspaced locations, whereupon any waste which has been accidentallydeposited on top of the disc 126 will freely slide thereoff and thusremain within or fall into the receptacle 31.

Thus, the disc 126 effectively totally closes the upper open end of thereceptacle when the ram is being moved into the receptacle forcompacting of the waste therein. If the compression of the waste by theram should cause any of the waste to fly about, such as might be causedby the shattering of a plastic or glass article, then the flying wastewill be prevented from flying out the open end of the receptacle due tothe presence of the protective shield 126. Further, the shield 126, bybeing constructed from a flexible elastic rubber-like material, cansubstantially totally enclose the receptacle since the edge of theshield 126 can be dis posed in sliding engagement with the bag 46without causing tearing or damage to the bag.

Attaching a shield 126 to the ram in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 6and 7 is also highly desirable since, when the ram is in its uppermostretracted position, the shield does not interfere with the depositing oftrash into the bags 46. Use of the shields 126 thus provide increasedsafety for the user of the device, particularly when the device is beingutilized for crushing frangible materials, such as glass, plastic andthe like, while at the same time the shield does not interfere withtheefficient operation of the compacting device.

MODIFICATIONS FIG. 8 illustrates therein a modification of the presentinvention and, in particular, relates to an alternate positioning of thesafety shield. In this embodiment, the upper edge of the receptacle 31when in the closed position is provided with a removable shield 136,which shield is used in place of the shield 126 illustrated in FIGS. 6and 7. The shield 136 again comprises an annular ring-like memberprovided with an opening 137 in the center thereof and having a suitableflange 138 adapted to extend over the upper edge of the receptacle 31.The shield 136 is positioned over the upper edge of the receptacle 31after the bag 46 has been suspended therein and, like the shield 126, ispreferably constructed from a thin sheet of rubber-like material so thatthe shield will resiliently deflect or deform when the compacting shoe92 passes through the opening 137. The opening 137 can be provided witha diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the face 93 to permitthe shoe 92 to pass therethrough. This relationship thus minimizes theclearance between the shield 136 and the outer sleeve 111 when the shoe92 is disposed within the receptacle 31. The shield 136, due to itsbeing mounted on the upper end of the receptacle 31, must necessarily bemanually removed from the receptacle when it is desired to remove afilled bag 46 from the receptacle. The shield 136 is repositioned on theupper edge of the receptacle 31 after the receptacle has been closed anda new empty bag 46 suspended therein.

While the shield illustrated in FIG. 8 is preferably constructed of aresilient rubber-like material, nevertheless it could be constructed ofa more rigid material, such as sheet metal or the like. However, thiswould necessarily require that the opening 137 have a diameter slightlylarger than the maximum diameter of the shoe 92. This would obviouslyincrease the clearance between the shield and the sleeve 111, and thusincrease the possibility of trash being ejected through the clearancespace.

FIG. 9 illustrates therein still a further modification of the presentinvention wherein the protective shield 146 is mounted on the hopper l4.Particularly, rather than utilizing either the shield 126 or the shield136, the hopper 14 can be provided with a shield 146 thereon secured tothe wall 83 in surrounding relationship to the opening 82. The shield146 can be provided with a suitable channel-shaped outer peripheryadapted to extend over the edge of the wall 83 for releasably securingthe shield to the hopper. The shield 146 is again preferably constructedfrom a thin sheet of rubber-like material and is of an annular ring-likeconfiguration, the shield having a central opening 147 therein through 5which passes the compacting shoe 92. The opening 147 also preferably hasa diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the shoe 92, whereuponthe resilient shield 146 thus substantially functions in the same manneras the shield 136. However, the shield 146 has the added advantage thatit does not: have to be removed when a filled bag is being replaced withan empty bag.

Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has beendisclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognizedthat variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, includingthe rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the presentinvention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A waste compactor, comprising:

housing means;

receptacle means coacting with said housing means for holding aremovable disposable container adapted to have waste deposited andcompacted therein, said receptacle means including a substantiallyvertically extending receptacle member having an upwardly directedopening therein; connecting means coacting between said receptacle 30means and said housing means when said receptacle means is disposed in afirst position wherein said disposable container is fillable with waste,said connecting means permitting said receptacle means to be movedrelative to said housing means to a second position permitting removalof a filled disposable container; extendible ram means mounted on saidhousing means for compacting waste within said disposable container,said ram means being disposed above and in substantial alignment withsaid receptacle means when said receptacle means is in said firstposition, said ram means having a maximum cross sectional area adjacentthe lower end thereof substantially less than the cross sectional areaof said receptacle means, whereby a substantial annular clearance spaceexists between said ram means and said receptacle means when the rammeans is disposed within the receptacle means; and shield meanssubstantially axially aligned with said annular clearance space andpositioned to at least partially axially overlap same to prevent wastematerial as deposited within said receptacle means from flying upwardlyout of said receptacle means during compaction of the waste by said rammeans;

said shield means comprising a disc-like member constructed from a thinsheet of flexible rubberlike material, said disc-like member beingfixedly secured to said ram means adjacent the lower end thereof andhaving a maximum transverse dimension substantially greater than themaximum transverse dimension of the lower end of said ram means, saiddisc-like member having sufficient flexibility so as to droop downwardlywhen said ram means is in its retracted position.

2. A waste compactor according to claim 1, wherein said disc member hasa fabric mesh embedded within said thin sheet of rubber-like material.

3. A waste compactor according to claim 1, wherein said receptaclemember is substantially cylindrical and said opening formed therein issubstantially circular, and said disc-like member having an annularconfiguration and having a diameter at least slightly greater than theinternal diameter of the receptacle member.

4. A waste compactor according to claim 1, wherein the outer edge ofsaid disc-like member droops downwardly in a substantially sinusoidalmanner when said ram means is in its retracted position.

5. A waste compactor according to claim 1, wherein said ram meansincludes a vertically extendible member having an enlarged compactingshoe fixedly secured to the lower end thereof, said compacting shoehaving a maximum transverse dimension substantially less than themaximum cross sectional dimension of the opening formed in saidreceptacle member, and said disc-like member being fixedly secured toand surrounding said compacting shoe and being movable therewith.

6. A waste compactor according to claim 5, wherein said compacting shoehas a substantially flat bottom face to compact the waste deposited inthe disposable container, said compacting shoe having side surface meanswhich slope outwardly and downwardly relative to said receptacle memberand said disc-like member being fixedly secured to said compacting shoeat a location spaced upwardly a substantial distance from the bottomface thereof.

7. A waste compactor, comprising: housing means; receptacle meanscoacting with said housing means for holding a removable disposablecontainer adapted to have waste deposited and compacted therein, saidreceptacle means including a substantially vertically extendingreceptacle member having an upwardly directed opening therein;

connecting means coacting between said receptacle means and said housingmeans when said receptacle means is disposed in a first position whereinsaid disposable container is fillable with waste, said connecting meanspermitting said receptacle means to be moved relative to said housingmeans to a second position permitting removal of a filled disposablecontainer;

extendible ram means mounted on said housing means for compacting wastewithin said disposable container, said ram means being disposed aboveand in substantial alignment with said receptacle means when saidreceptacle means is in said first position, said ram means having amaximum cross sectional area adjacent the lower end thereofsubstantially less than the cross sectional area of said receptaclemeans, whereby a substantial annular clearance space exists between saidram means and said receptacle means when the ram means is disposedwithin the receptacle means; and

shield means substantially axially aligned with said annular clearancespace and positioned to at least partially axially overlap same toprevent waste material as deposited within said receptacle means fromflying upwardly out of said receptacle means during compaction of thewaste by said ram means, said shield means comprising a ring-like discmember releasably mounted on the upper end of said receptacle member.

8. A waste compactor according to claim 7, wherein said ring-like discmember is constructed from a thin sheet of rubber-like material.

9. A waste compactor, comprising: housing means; receptacle meanscoacting with said housing means for holding a removable disposablecontainer adapted to have waste deposited and compacted therein, saidreceptacle means including a substantially vertically extendingreceptacle member having an upwardly directed opening therein;

connecting means coacting between said receptacle means and said housingmeans when said receptacle means is disposed in a first position whereinsaid disposable container is fillable with waste, said connecting meanspermitting said receptacle means to be moved relative to said housingmeans to a second position permitting removal of a filled disposablecontainer; extendible ram means mounted on said housing means forcompacting waste within said disposable container, said ram means beingdisposed above and in substantial alignment with said receptacle meanswhen said receptacle means is in said first position, said ram meanshaving a maximum cross sectional area adjacent the lower end thereofsubstantially less than the cross sectional area of said receptaclemeans, whereby a substantial annular clearance space exists between saidram means and said receptacle means when the ram means is disposedwithin the receptacle means; hopper means mounted on said housing means,said hopper means being positioned adjacent the upper end of saidreceptacle means and having an opening therein disclosed directly aboveand substantially aligned with the opening in said receptacle means whensaid receptacle means is in said first position; and shield meanssubstantially axially aligned with said annular clearance space andpositioned to at least partially axially overlap same to prevent wastematerial as deposited within said receptacle means from flying upwardlyout of said receptacle means during compaction of the waste by said rammeans, said shield means comprising a ring-like disc member constructedof a rubber-like material and secured to said hopper means substantiallyconcentric with and partially overlapping the opening therein. 10. Awaste compactor, comprising: housing means; receptacle means coactingwith said housing means for holding a removable disposable containeradapted to have waste deposited and compacted therein, said receptaclemeans including a substantially vertically extending receptacle memberhaving an upwardly directed opening therein;

connecting means coacting between said receptacle means and said housingmeans when said receptacle means is disposed in a first position whereinsaid disposable container is fillable with waste, said connecting meanspermitting said receptacle means to be moved relative to said housingmeans to a second position permitting removal of a filled disposablecontainer;

said receptacle member including a pair of separable arcuate sectionswhich when disposed adjacent one another define a substantiallycylindrical opening in which is positioned said disposable container,said separable sections being interconnected for permitting relativemovement therebetween when said receptacle means is in said secondposition for permitting removal of a filled disposable bag;

extendible ram means mounted on said housing means for compacting wastewithin said disposable container, said ram means being disposed aboveand in substantial alignment with said receptacle means when saidreceptacle means is in said first position, said ram means having amaximum cross sectional area adjacent the lower end thereofsubstantially less than the cross sectional area of said receptaclemeans, whereby a substantial annular clearance space exists between saidram means and said receptacle means when the ram means is disposedwithin the receptacle means;

said ram means comprising an extendible fluid pressure cylinder having acompacting shoe fixedly secured to the lower end thereof, saidcompacting shoe having a maximum diametrical dimension substantiallyless than the internal diameter of said receptacle means; and

shield means substantially-axially aligned with said annular clearancespace and positioned to at least partially axially overlap same toprevent waste material as deposited within said receptacle means fromflying upwardly out of said receptacle means during compaction of thewaste by said ram means;

said shield means comprising a thin annular member fixedly secured tosaid compacting shoe and extending radially outwardly therefrom insurrounding relationship thereto, said thin annular member having adiameter at least substantially equal to the internal diameter of saidreceptacle means and being fixedly secured to said compacting shoe at alocation spaced slightly axially upwardly from the lowermost pointthereof.

11. A waste compactor according to claim 10,

wherein said thin annular member is constructed from a flexiblerubber-like material and has a diameter t 0' i I

1. A waste compactor, comprising: housing means; receptacle meanscoacting with said housing means for holding a removable disposablecontainer adapted to have waste deposited and compacted therein, saidreceptacle means including a substantially vertically extendingreceptacle member having an upwardly directed opening therein;connecting means coacting between said receptacle means and said housingmeans when said receptacle means is disposed in a first position whereinsaid disposable container is fillable with waste, said connecting meanspermitting said receptacle means to be moved relative to said housingmeans to a second position permitting removal of a filled disposablecontainer; extendible ram means mounted on said housing means forcompacting waste within said disposable container, said ram means beingdisposed above and in substantial alignment with said receptacle meanswhen said receptacle means is in said first position, said ram meanshaving a maximum cross sectional area adjacent the lower end thereofsubstantially less than the cross sectional area of said receptaclemeans, whereby a substantial annular clearance space exists between saidram means and said receptacle means when the ram means is disposedwithin the receptacle means; and shield means substantially axiallyaligned with said annular clearance space and positioned to at leastpartially axially overlap same to prevent waste material as depositedwithin said receptacle means from flying upwardly out of said receptaclemeans during compaction of the waste by said ram means; said shieldmeans comprising a disc-like member constructed from a thin sheet offlexible rubber-like material, said disc-like member being fixedlysecured to said ram means adjacent the lower end thereof and having amaximum transverse dimension substantially greater than the maximumtransverse dimension of the lower end of said ram means, said disc-likemember having sufficient flexibility so as to droop downwardly when saidram means is in its retracted position.
 2. A waste compactor accordingto claim 1, wherein said disc member has a fabric mesh embedded withinsaid thin sheet of rubber-like material.
 3. A waste compactor accordingto claim 1, wherein said receptacle member is substantially cylindricaland said opening formed therein is substantially circular, and saiddisc-like member having an annular configuration and having a diameterat least slightly greater than the internal diameter of the receptaclemember.
 4. A waste compactor according to claim 1, wherein the outeredge of said disc-like member droops downwardly in a substantiallysinusoidal manner when said ram means is in its retracted position.
 5. Awaste compactor according to claim 1, wherein said ram means includes avertically extendible member having an enlarged compacting shoe fixedlysecured to the lower end thereof, said comPacting shoe having a maximumtransverse dimension substantially less than the maximum cross sectionaldimension of the opening formed in said receptacle member, and saiddisc-like member being fixedly secured to and surrounding saidcompacting shoe and being movable therewith.
 6. A waste compactoraccording to claim 5, wherein said compacting shoe has a substantiallyflat bottom face to compact the waste deposited in the disposablecontainer, said compacting shoe having side surface means which slopeoutwardly and downwardly relative to said receptacle member and saiddisc-like member being fixedly secured to said compacting shoe at alocation spaced upwardly a substantial distance from the bottom facethereof.
 7. A waste compactor, comprising: housing means; receptaclemeans coacting with said housing means for holding a removabledisposable container adapted to have waste deposited and compactedtherein, said receptacle means including a substantially verticallyextending receptacle member having an upwardly directed opening therein;connecting means coacting between said receptacle means and said housingmeans when said receptacle means is disposed in a first position whereinsaid disposable container is fillable with waste, said connecting meanspermitting said receptacle means to be moved relative to said housingmeans to a second position permitting removal of a filled disposablecontainer; extendible ram means mounted on said housing means forcompacting waste within said disposable container, said ram means beingdisposed above and in substantial alignment with said receptacle meanswhen said receptacle means is in said first position, said ram meanshaving a maximum cross sectional area adjacent the lower end thereofsubstantially less than the cross sectional area of said receptaclemeans, whereby a substantial annular clearance space exists between saidram means and said receptacle means when the ram means is disposedwithin the receptacle means; and shield means substantially axiallyaligned with said annular clearance space and positioned to at leastpartially axially overlap same to prevent waste material as depositedwithin said receptacle means from flying upwardly out of said receptaclemeans during compaction of the waste by said ram means, said shieldmeans comprising a ring-like disc member releasably mounted on the upperend of said receptacle member.
 8. A waste compactor according to claim7, wherein said ring-like disc member is constructed from a thin sheetof rubber-like material.
 9. A waste compactor, comprising: housingmeans; receptacle means coacting with said housing means for holding aremovable disposable container adapted to have waste deposited andcompacted therein, said receptacle means including a substantiallyvertically extending receptacle member having an upwardly directedopening therein; connecting means coacting between said receptacle meansand said housing means when said receptacle means is disposed in a firstposition wherein said disposable container is fillable with waste, saidconnecting means permitting said receptacle means to be moved relativeto said housing means to a second position permitting removal of afilled disposable container; extendible ram means mounted on saidhousing means for compacting waste within said disposable container,said ram means being disposed above and in substantial alignment withsaid receptacle means when said receptacle means is in said firstposition, said ram means having a maximum cross sectional area adjacentthe lower end thereof substantially less than the cross sectional areaof said receptacle means, whereby a substantial annular clearance spaceexists between said ram means and said receptacle means when the rammeans is disposed within the receptacle means; hopper means mounted onsaid housing means, said hopper means being positioned adjacent theupper end of said receptacle means and having an opening thereindisclOsed directly above and substantially aligned with the opening insaid receptacle means when said receptacle means is in said firstposition; and shield means substantially axially aligned with saidannular clearance space and positioned to at least partially axiallyoverlap same to prevent waste material as deposited within saidreceptacle means from flying upwardly out of said receptacle meansduring compaction of the waste by said ram means, said shield meanscomprising a ring-like disc member constructed of a rubber-like materialand secured to said hopper means substantially concentric with andpartially overlapping the opening therein.
 10. A waste compactor,comprising: housing means; receptacle means coacting with said housingmeans for holding a removable disposable container adapted to have wastedeposited and compacted therein, said receptacle means including asubstantially vertically extending receptacle member having an upwardlydirected opening therein; connecting means coacting between saidreceptacle means and said housing means when said receptacle means isdisposed in a first position wherein said disposable container isfillable with waste, said connecting means permitting said receptaclemeans to be moved relative to said housing means to a second positionpermitting removal of a filled disposable container; said receptaclemember including a pair of separable arcuate sections which whendisposed adjacent one another define a substantially cylindrical openingin which is positioned said disposable container, said separablesections being interconnected for permitting relative movementtherebetween when said receptacle means is in said second position forpermitting removal of a filled disposable bag; extendible ram meansmounted on said housing means for compacting waste within saiddisposable container, said ram means being disposed above and insubstantial alignment with said receptacle means when said receptaclemeans is in said first position, said ram means having a maximum crosssectional area adjacent the lower end thereof substantially less thanthe cross sectional area of said receptacle means, whereby a substantialannular clearance space exists between said ram means and saidreceptacle means when the ram means is disposed within the receptaclemeans; said ram means comprising an extendible fluid pressure cylinderhaving a compacting shoe fixedly secured to the lower end thereof, saidcompacting shoe having a maximum diametrical dimension substantiallyless than the internal diameter of said receptacle means; and shieldmeans substantially axially aligned with said annular clearance spaceand positioned to at least partially axially overlap same to preventwaste material as deposited within said receptacle means from flyingupwardly out of said receptacle means during compaction of the waste bysaid ram means; said shield means comprising a thin annular memberfixedly secured to said compacting shoe and extending radially outwardlytherefrom in surrounding relationship thereto, said thin annular memberhaving a diameter at least substantially equal to the internal diameterof said receptacle means and being fixedly secured to said compactingshoe at a location spaced slightly axially upwardly from the lowermostpoint thereof.
 11. A waste compactor according to claim 10, wherein saidthin annular member is constructed from a flexible rubber-like materialand has a diameter slightly greater than the internal diameter of saidreceptacle means.